Film splicer



NOW 26, 1934 H. F. ROHRDANZ FILM SPLICER Filed May '7. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NOV. 2, 934; H. F' ROHRDANZ FILM sPLIcER Filed May 7. 1932 2 sheets-sheet 2 Paienied Nov. 2o, resa UNITED s'ra'rssl PATENT carica 1,981,332 v FILM sil-iliona i Harold F. Rohr-dana, InglewooCalii. Application May. 7, 1932, seria; No. 609,941 I l 19 claims. (ci. 15e-42) My invention relates to improvements in splicers and has particular reference to one which is adapted for cutting and splicing a motion picture film.

The invention has for a general object to provide a greatly simplied device of this character, the operation of which is fool proof, Aand through the use of which but one section of lm need be moved but a single time during the period occupied by the cutting', scraping and splicing operation-the device comprehending but few simple parts which enable it to be made very small and compact, and the construction and arrangement beingV such that there* is virtually nothing to get out of order.

A further and more specific object is to pro-` vide in a device of this kind a ,nov'el means which has the combined functions of holding a film section in place while it is being cut; that of serving as a gauge to determine the exact portion of a film section from which the emulsion is to be scraped 'to provide the cement receiving surface, and finally which serves as a. presser for compressing the overlapped lrn portions after the cement has been interposed therebetween. v I

-Another object of the invention is to provide in a device of the character described novel lrn severing means whereby ends of two lm sections may be cut oft simultaneously and automatically disposed of, said severing means being formed so as to provide a space below one lrn section (after the same has been'shifted so that one end overlaps that of the other scction) .so that it may be readily lifted to enable cement to be'applied to the subjacent portion of 'the other lm section.

The invention also resides in certain novel eatures of construction, combination and arrangement of the various parts and in methods of use-all of which will be readily apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

It is to be understood that the disclosures herein are directed to what appears to be a preferred example of the invention althourh obviously various changes and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the sublect matter claimed, hereinafter.

- In the drawings, wherein the same reference characters have been used to designate the same parts in all views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustratingr a iilm splicer and cutter embodying my invenion;

Figure 2 is a top plan View 'illustrating the parts in the position they assume when the' adjacent ends of two film sections are being severed:

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a scraper element;

Figure 4 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the device:

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the' line 6 6 of Figure 4;

Figure- 'I is a cross sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of Figure a.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, numeral 7 denotes a substantially rectangular base having a downturned marginal supporting' 'angeTa.

The upper surface of the base '7 adjacent each end is provided with a pair of opposed upward'- ly struck guide lugs 8 for engaging the side edges of the nlm sections l0 whose adjacent ends are to be severed.

Figures land 2 clearly show that the base is provided with two pairs oi upstanding pins 9 which are adapted to extend through the pairs of marginal holes 10a, of thefllm soas to hold while the cutting operation is taking place. n this connection, it is to be observed that there is a clamp slide i2 for each nim section i0.-d each of such slides working in a slide-way`1 transversely of the base and having its outer end turned up as 'at 12e to provide a finger piece for ready operation. The slides 12 are confined withinthe limits of their guides 11 oy means of a downturned tongue 13, working in a slot 14 extending transversely oi the base 7, as best shown in Figures 1, Zand 5. The obvious iunction of the slides 12 is to hold the film sections 10 down so as to prevent disengagement from the pins 9.

Located between the slideways 11 are the bearing ears 15 whose opposed apertures carry the" rotatable and axially slidable shaft 17 whose portion' intermediate the ears l5 extends loosely through the curled rear or bearing end l16 oi the film' severing member 18 which, as willbe observed particularly from Figures 1 and '7 has the intermediatev downwardly offset film severing portion 18a which cooperates with the side edges oi the cut-out 7?: oi base 'l for severing the frayed ends of the film sections l0. Obviously the nlm sections l0 upon being severed will drop down onto the surface beneath the base 7 so as 'the same against shifting movement on the base Y Sii 'iis

not to interfere with the subsequent scraping and splicing operations. It is to be observed that the sides of the cutting portion 18a cooperate with the walls of the cut-out '7b after the fashion of the blades of a pair of shears.

Particular emphasis is made to the fact that one end o the shaft 17 extends a'v substantial distance beyond the adjacent bearing ear 15 and has rigidly secured thereon the rear end 19 of a combined clamping, gauge and presser lever 20 extending transversely of the'base 7 and having opposed holes 21 adapted, as' shown .in

Figures 1 and 2. to'receive the subjacent lm holding pins v9 when such lever is in. its nlm clamping and gauge functioning position 'as depicted in the drawings.

The shaft-carried end of the lever 20 abuts the head 17a of the shaft 17 at one side, and it is to be noted that the outward lineal movement of said shaft 17 is limited by a head 17h at itsopposite end. The width of the bearing end of the vlever 2O is less than the maximum projection of the shaft head'17a away from the adjacent ear 15, thus permitting lever 20`to be shifted inwardly so that one edge will lie substantially nush with the adjacent wall of the opening 7b while the other edge will lie substantially ush with the adjacent sides of the film holding pins 9.

From what has been said above it will' be evi-I dent that after the frayed ends of the film sec- ,tion's 10 have been severed by the member 18,

the lever 20 serves as a gauge to accurately define the area from which the emulsion is to be scraped said area being-that exposed between 2'0 and 18 (Flam.

The emulsion having been' scraped olf the left hand film-section 10 at the site of the joint or splice,'the right hand slide 12 (Fig. 2) is moved rearwardly 01T of its film section 10 which is thereupon raised and disengaged from the right hand set of pins 9 and shifted leftwardly (Fig. 2) until its end abuts the adjacent edge of the lever 20 to overlap the adjacent end of the left hand lm section 10.

Particular attention is invited to the fact that the distance from the right 'hand set of pins 9 (Fig. 2) to the adjacent edge of lever 20, in its fullline or gaging position, is equal to twice the lineal distance between two sets vof marginal nlm holes 10a (Fig. 2), Thus. when the end of the right hand film section is moved to overlap the scraped end of the left hand section and to abut thel lever `20, the right hand pins 9 will be in a position to engage a pair of nlm holes 10a.

The sliding of the right hand film section 10 to this position may be readily accomplished, as it'will be evident from Figs. 1 and 7 that there is no' intervening obstruction since the upper surface of the downwardlyoffset cutting portion 18a. of member 18 does not project above the plane of the surface 7 and is in fact disposed below such surface for reasons that will presently appear.

The ends of the film sections having been overlapped as aforesaid, it. is a sim-ple matter to lift the `overlapped portion of the film 1D away from the scraped surface of the other section and apply cement to the latter. The fact that the upper surface vof the cutting portion 18a is below the surface of the base 1l) enables the scraper 26 to be readily slid under the over lapping portion of the right hand rilm section 10 to lift it.

After the cement has been applied, the Ovt:`

lapped flm portion l0 is allowed to drop into place whereupon the latch 22 which is pivoted. as at 23 to the end oi.' lever 2O is disengaged from the lug 24 of supporting fiange 7a and the lever 2 0 is lifted and slid rightwardly (Fig. 2) until its bearing end 19 abuts the adjacent ear 15. Thenthe lever 20 is depressed to firmly compress the overlapping ends ofl the film together -to cause effective action of the cement, and if desired the latch 22 may again be engaged with lug 24 to hold said lever. in splice clamping position. As previously explained. the 4 shaft-carried end 19 of lever 20 cooperating with the adjacent ear 15 and the subjacent pins 9 makes it absolutely impossible for the lever 20 to be brought downwardly upon any portion of the nlm other than that exact area which has been previously scrapedan'd coated with cement.

The scraper employed is illustrated in Figi 3. and is seen to comprise the rod 26 having the flattened-and sharpened end 26a.

In order that the scraper will always be handy and. available for use, I provide the keeper clamp 25 at one side of the base 'l and which cooperates with the bottom outward curl of the supporting flange '7a. in holding the scraper.

vThe clamp 25 is carried by the undersurface of the base 7 and may be secured to a block 25a as shown, such clamp 25 extending outwardly through the hole 25D in flange 7a as best shown in Figure 7.

From the foregoing description it' is believed that theadvantages ascribed to the device in the introductory part of this specification will be readily understood'and appreciated bythose skilled-inthe art. l

While the device is preferably made out of metal, it may be feasible and equally satisfactory to use other material. The description of course has been specific tothe form of the device' shown, although same is to be taken merely as illustrative of my inventive conception. The invention is not to be taken as limited to the simultaneous cutting of film sections. and various instrumentalities are understood to be useful in combinations less than the whole.

The operation of the device may be summarized as follows:

ist. The clamp slides 12 are pushed back as far as possible out of the way; the latch 22 rel `leased and the arm 2O swung back to its inop erative position; and the cutting member 18 is taken by its protruding 'free end land swung4 baclr toits inoperative position,

2nd.- The left portion of the film l0 (Fig. 2) is attached to the device in the manner illustrated (between guides 8. 8. and on pins 9, with its ragged end extending into the scrap-receiving hole 7, whereupon the adjacent clamp slide 12 is pushed down over said left hand film section 1 to securely hold same. The right portion of lrn is attached in the same manner.

3rd. The lever 20 is now swung down to its extreme left position, with the subjacent pins 9 Aprotruding through openings 21, as shown in oth. The scraper 26 (Fig. 3) is now used to lill'.

. latch 22.

scrape the emulsion from that portion of the left. section of film extending beyond the inner edge of the lever 20. l

6th. The right hand clamp slide l2 (Fic. 2) is now pushed back and the right hand portion of film (Fig. 2i lifted from its anchor pins 9 on the base 7, said nlm beiner now shifted to the left4 till its newly-cut edite rests against the inner edge of lever 20, overlapping scraped part ofthe left portion of lm. Then said right lm section 10 is again placed down on the subjacent holding pins 9 which engage through aligned perforations 10a in the longitudinal'edtge of film. rThe clamp slide i2 is now again pushed over the right portion of film tohold it.

7th. The scraper 26 is now taken in the .right hand and the knife end slipped under the over-- lapping section of film by way of the depression.

18a in cutting member 18; said right hand scc tion of film being raised in this manner and held up while cement is applied with the left hand to the exposed scraped section of the left film section 10. Then the scraper is put aside and film allowed to again rest in overlapping position on the cemented area.

8th. Now the lever 20 is utilized as a presser, being released from its first position by way of Lever' 20 is now raised clear of film and pushed the allowed space to the richt over the joined ends of film and then lowered to be brought into pressure bearing contact with the spliced portion of nlm. In this position', the lever 20 is again securely fastened by way of the latch 22.

After the few mom-ents required for the cement to dry, clamp slide plates i2 are pushed 'back o the iilin, the lever. 20 is released and swung back to its inoperative position, and the film removed with the splice now perfectly completed.

I claim as my invention:

i. A device of the class described comprising a base, a cutter carried by said base and a combined lrn holding, presser and gauge member at one side of said cutter and movable toward and from the same.

2. A device of the class described comprisint a base. a cutter carried by said base, a combined film holding. presser and izauee member at one side of said cutter and movable toward and from the same. and said combined film holding, presser and gauge member being swingably earried by said base.

3. A device of the class described eo'ri'ip'iisinf; a base, a cutter carried by said base, a comb-ined film holding, presser and traitee member movable toward and from said cutter, and said cutter and combined film holding'. presser and gauge member bein: co-axially carried by said base for swinging movement', the cutter beim;r confined against lateral shiftini',r movement.

4. A device of the class described compris'ini,r a lease, a cutter carried by said base. a combined film holding. presser and gauge member movable toward and from said cutter, and said cutter and combined film holding, presser and gauge member being co-axially carried by said base for swinging movement, the cutter being confined against lateral shifting movement, and said base having a eut-out cooperating with an edge of said cutter in the severing of the work.

5. In a device of the class described having: a base and work-severing means. work clampiiii; means adjacent said severing means, a limitedly shiftable support for said clamping means operntini; triiii:-;vei'.iely with respect to said severine;

means, ont` edite of said clamping means being spaced laterally from the cutter in one extreme position of the support whereby to provide a splice-length-indicatiniz gauge and film-end stop. and said edge -in the other extreme position oi` said support lying flush with said severing means whereby said clamping means may overlie the spliced ends of the work.

6. In a device oi the class described having a base und work-severine means, work clamping ineens adjacent said severing'means. a limitedly .'hiftable support ior said clamping means operat ne transversely with respect to said severing means, one edite of said clamping means 'being .':pceed laterally from the cutter in one extreme position of the support whereby to provide a splice-lengthindicating gauge and nlm-end .-ftop, said edge in the otherextreme position of said support lyingr flush with said severing means whereby said clamping-means may overlie the spliced endsoi the work, and means for preventing7 said clamping' means from engaging the film except at said extreme positions 'of scid clampingr means support.

.7. In a device of the class described havinga base and work-scverine means, work clamping means adjacent sind severine means. a limitedly ."hiftablc support for said clampinrf meansoperating` transversely with respect to said severing means, one edge oi said clamping: means being :paced laterally from the cutter in one extreme. position oi the support whereby to provide a splice-lennui-indicating .saugeand anim-end stop, said edge in the other extreme position of said support lying: flush with said severing means whereby said clamping means may overlie the spliced ends of the work, and lm enea@ insT holdingl means cooperatingl with said elamD ine; means in each extreme position to hold the film against shifting, and preventingl the clamping'. means from cnifaging the iilm except at said extreme positions oi' said support.

8. In a nlm splicing device or the like com# prisinea base, :i film enigfaeini; member swing,- ably and slidiibly carried by said base.

9. In a film splicing device or the like comprising: a base, a iilm engaging member swingably and slidabiy carried by said base. means for limiting the sliding inovementoi said mem- .ber whereby at one extreme positionone edge of the member providesI a gauge for defining the length of the splice and a stop for the end of onefilm section, the member at the other limit oi its sliding movement overlying the splice. V

10. In a device of the class described, a base, a swingable cutter carried thereby. and a combined splice limit defining and splice compressins member movable on said base into one position to define a splice and into another and different position lo compress a splice.

11. In a device of the class described. a base. it swiniiable cutter carried thereby. a combined splice .limit defining and splice compressing member movably carried by said base. and means on said member for locking said member against the film.

l2. In a device of the class described, a base. a swineable cutter carried thereby, a combined splice limit dening and splice compressing member movably carried by sind base. and film holding means including movable members carried by said base.

, 13. A device oi' the class described comprising :los

a base having a rectangular cut-out. aligned pairs of film-guiding elements at opposite sides of said cut-out and adjacent the remote ends of vsaid base. a nlm confining slide member at each side of said cut-out and working transversely of the base, a pair of filmsecuring pins at each side of said cut-out and spaced therefrom, said slide members holding the film beftween said guides and in engagement with said pins, a pair of spaced bearing ears arranged opposite said cut-out and adjacent one side of said base, an axially shiftable shaft carried in said bearing ears and having headed ends, the length of said shaft being substantially greater than the distance between said ears so that one end of the shaft may be. projected considerably beyond the outer surface of one of fthe ears, a film severing member pivoted on said shaft between said ears, said film severing member having `a downwardly offset intermediate cutting portion of a width equal to the width of said cut-out and adapted to be swung thcre into, the side edges of said downwardly offset cuttingportion cooperating with the sides oi said cut-out for shearing oil the frayed ends of a pair ofnlm sections when the cutting .element is operated, and a combined nlm holding` presser and gauge member xedly secured to said shaft adjacent one headed end thereof.

l4.`The combination set forth in claim 13. and said combined nim holding presser and gauge member being'of a width equal to the length of the splice whereby to completely overlie the same when in splice pressing position.

15, The combination set forth in claim 13. and said combined lm holding presser and 'mancare gauge member being oi a width equal to the length of the splice whereby to completely overlie the same when in splice compressing position, and said member in its other position having a longitudinal edge spaced from said base cut-out whereby to provide a splice length defining gauge for facilitating scraping and splicing of the `film. A

16. A device of the class described comprising a base, a cutter carried by said base.v film anchoring elements carried by said base adjacent the cutter, a combined'splice limit defining gage member and splice compressing member, and

said film anchoring elements cooperating with means carried by said base at one side of the cutter for dening different positions of said member llaterally of the cutter.

19. In a device ofthe class described, a base, a cutter carried thereby, a combined splice limit defining and splice compressing lmember,"and means carried by said base at one side of the cutter for clampingsaid member against said base at different points laterally of the cutter.

HAR'oLDA F; RoHRpANa.'

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